there was a sentence in there saying something like “they here because in the fall, it’s more pleasant than being in a tunnel” but we decided to cut it to emphasize the fact that they wait because there are no countdown clocks

yes with clocks there’d be no need to wait – you’d just arrive when the train was there. precisely the same crowd who lifehacks the thing by standing outside would check the times in advance, is my bet. that’s the killer feature of the countdown clocks: the times get published to an app you can check before your commute.

Austin’s light-rail system has countdown clocks. People still get there early (and the stations are completely open to the elements aside from a roof) and wait – because the train comes when it comes and leaves when it leaves, no matter what the clock says. Still nice to have, though.